Del Rosario, R.A, T.

BSMT 1-1

Clinical Parasitology
Kyle Mirah Sumayao, RMT, MSMLS

Definition of Terms
1. Parasitology - study of parasites and parasitism.
2. Parasitism - a symbiotic relationship where one organism, which is the host, for survival and
usually at the expense of the latter
3. Classification of Parasites
According to habitat of the parasite
Endoparasite - parasite living inside the host
Ectoparasite - parasite living outside the
host According to mode of development
Obligate Parasite - parasite that requires host to complete its development cycle
Faculative Parasite - parasite that can be free-living or
become parasitic According to mode of living
Accidental or Incidental Parasite - parasite that establishes itself to a host
where it does not ordinarily live
Permanent Parasite - parasite that remains in the host for its entire life
Temporary Parasite - parasite that remains in the host for a short period of time
Spurious Parasite - a free living organism that passes through the digestive tract
of the host without infecting the host itself
4. Classification of host
a. Definitive Host - host on which the parasite attains sexual maturity
b. Intermediate Host - host which harbors the larval stages of the parasite
c. Paratenic Host - one in which the parasite does not develop further to later stages,
but parasite is kept alive and is capable of infecting another susceptible host
d. Reservoir Host - animal host other than definitive host that can allow the
continuation of the life cycle and become additional sources of human infection
e. Carrier - hosts that harbors a particular pathogen without manifesting any sign
and symptoms
5. Vector - are responsible for transmitting the parasite from one host to another
a. Mechanical or Phoretic Vector - transports the parasite; no development of the parasite from
one host to
another
b. Biological Vector - transmits the parasite after the completion of its development in the host;
e.g mosquitoes
necessary for the completion of life cycle
6. Exposure - the process of inoculating an infective agent
7. Infection - establishment of the infective agent in the host; presence of an endoparasite in the host
8. Infestation - establishment of the infective agent on the host; presence of an ectoparasite in the host
9. Clinical Incubation Period - period between the acquisition of the parasite and evidence of symptoms
He / She is a carrier without the symptoms or no manifestation of the symptom
10. Biological Incubation Period - period between the acquisition of the parasite and the demonstration of
infection
Virus = Targeting the immune system Covid 19 – Pre-existing condition, co-morbidity, and other infection
11. Auto-Infection - results when an infected individual becomes his own direct source of infection
12. Hyperinfection / Superinfection - results when an already infected individual is further infected with the
same species leading to massive infection with the parasite
13. Co-Infection - results when an already infected individual is concurrently further infected with
another specie of parasite
14. Erratic Parasite - parasites that wander from its usual site of infection into a location that it does
not ordinarily live in
15. Treatment
a. Deworming - the use of anti-helminthic drugs in an individual
b. Efficacy - effect of drug against an infective agent in ideal experimental conditions
 c. Effectiveness - measure of the effect of a drug against an infective agent in a particular host

d. Cure Rate - the number of previously positive subjects found to be negative on examination of
a specimen at a set time after deworming
e. Eradication - defined as permanent reduction to zero of worldwide incidence of infection
caused by as specific agent, as a result of deliberate efforts
f. Elimination - a reduction to zero of the incidence of a specified disease in a defined
geographic area as a result of deliberate efforts
16. Modes of Transmission
 Skin Penetration
 Congenital Transmission
 Inhalation
 Ingestion of contaminated
food or water
 Sexual or Venerial

Nematodes (ROUNDWORMS)
Ascaris lumbricoides Enterobius vermicularis
Trichuris trichiura Capillaria philippinensis
Hookworms Filarial worms
Strongyloides stercoralis Trichinella spiralis

Typical Features of Nematodes

1. Adult roundworms are:
a. Cylindrical worm c. Mostly Bilateral symmetrical
b. Elongated worm d. Unsegmented worm
2. Adult roundworms possess specialized anterior end capable of causing abrasion, indusing attachment, and
initiating sensory response. This may include any of the following:
a. Lips d. Papillae
b. Plates e. Teeth
c. Hooks

3. Adult roundworms have complete digestive tract, having both oral and anal openings
4. Adult roundworms are non-hermaphroditic, they have separate sexes. Males are smaller
compared to females; males usually have a curved posterior end
5. Life cycle: Eggs ->_ Larva ->_ Adult
6. Adults of Intestinal nematodes may be found in the Large intestine and Small intestine
a. Large intestines - E. Vermicularis and T. Trichiura
b. Small intestines - A. Lumbricoides, Hookworms, S. Stercoralis, C. Philippinensis, T. Spiralis
c. Extra-intestinal Nematodes – filarial worms, Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Del Rosario, R.A, T.

BSMT 1-1
Ascaris lumbricoides
Common Name: Giant Intestinal Worm (Spaghetti)
Signs and Symptoms: Abdominal pain,
pneumonitis, worm bolus / intestinal
obstruction, Diarrhea, Vili atrophy, and
Malnutrition
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion
Infective stage: Embryonated Ova
Diagnostic stage: Unfertilized, Infertilized,
and Ova.
Trichuris trichiura (Bipolar Plug)
Common Name: Whipworm
Disease Associated: Rectal Prolapse,
Trichiuriasis, Diarrhea and Iron Deficiency
anemia.
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion
Infective Stage: Embryonated Ova
Diagnostic Stage: Ova
Morphology:
Eggs: Prominent bipolar plug.
Adults: Whip like (Latigo)
Hookworms ( Ancylostoma Duodenale and Necator Americanus)
Scientific Names: Old world Hookworm –
New world Hookworm
Disease Associated: Iron Deficiency
Anemia and Hookworm infection -
Mode of Transmission: Skin Penetration
Infective Stage: Filariform Larva (L3)
Diagnostic Stage: Ova
Dog hookworm: Ancylostoma
Caninum
Cat hookworm: Ancylostoma
Brazillienze
Strongyloides stercoralis
Common name: Threadworm
Disease Associated: Cochinchina diarrhea,
strongyloidiasis and honey comb ulcer
Mode of Transmission: Skin penetration
Infective Stage: Filariform Larva (L3)
Diagnostic Stage: Rhabditiform Larva (L1)
Enterobius vermicularis
Common Name: Pinworm and Society
worm
Disease Associated: Oxyuriasis,
Enterobiasis, and Pruritus ani
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion and
Inhalation
Infective Stage: Embryonated Ova
Diagnostic Stage: Eggs loof sided D-shaped
Capillaria philippinensis (Flat Bipolar Plug, Striations)
Common Name: Pudok worm
Disease Associated: Capillariasis and
Borborygmi
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion
Infective Stage: Filariform Larva (L3)
Diagnostic Stage: Egg with peanut,
Rhabditiform Larva (L1)
Intermediate Host: Fish (Bagsit, Bagsang,
Ipon)
Trichinella spiralis (Muscle worm commonly found in striated muscle) (Tissue biopsy)
Common Name: Pork Worm
Disease Associated: Trichinosis
Mode of Transmission: Ingestion
Infective Stage: Encysted Larva (Pig)
Diagnostic Stage: Encysted Larva in
muscle
Filarial worms: Wuchereria Bancrofti & Brugia Malayi
Scientific Name: Bancroft’s Filariasis
worm & Malayan Filariasis worm
Disease Associated: W. Bancroft =
Bancroftian Filariasis, Lymphedema,
Elephantiasis, Hydrocele
B. Malayi = Brugia Filariasis and
Lymphatic Filariasis
Mode of Transmission: Vectorborne, Bite
of Mosquitoes
Infective Stage: Filariform Larva (L3)
Diagnostic Stage: Mircofilarae in Blood
Microfilarae = Youngest larva / use to see in the
blood smear
Other Filarial Worms
Loa-loa - African eye worm
Vector - Chrysops specie = Mango Fly
Disease Associated: Loasis and Calabar
swelling
Morphology: Sheathed

Onchocerca volvulus - River Blindness,

Blinding worm, Convoluted worm
Vector - Simulium Flies = Black Fly
Disease Associated: Onchoceriasis, River blindness
Diagnosis is done using: Skin nip technique
Morphology: convoluted or unsheathed
 Other Nematodes:
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Common name: Rat Lung worm
Disease Associated: Eosinophilic
meningitis Encephalitis
Intermediate host: Snail and Slugs
(Kuhol)
- The Rat will eat the snail while the
snails will infect the rat.Slugs
(Kuhol) that been eaten by the
human = Accidental Host

Dracunculus medinensis
Common name: Guinea worm / Fiery
Serpent if the Israelites
Intermediate host: Copepods